ifmetric

The command line tool "ifmetric" is a utility used in Unix-like operating systems to modify the routing metrics on a network interface. It allows users to control the priority of network interfaces by manipulating the metrics associated with each interface.

With ifmetric, users can prioritize which network interface is used for outbound network traffic, making it useful in scenarios where multiple interfaces are present. This can be handy when there are multiple connections available, such as wired and wireless, and the user wants to control which one takes precedence.

By adjusting the metrics, users can influence routing decisions made by the system, ensuring that specific interfaces are selected over others. This can be beneficial for managing network traffic by prioritizing certain interfaces based on their speed, reliability, or other factors.

The ifmetric tool is generally used in scripts or command line operations, allowing for automatic and programmatic control over the routing metrics. It provides a simple and efficient way to handle network interface prioritization in a dynamic environment.

It requires administrative privileges to modify the metrics, as it deals with low-level network routing settings. Users need to run the command with superuser privileges or use the "sudo" command for effective execution.

The ifmetric tool is available as a package in many Linux distributions and can be easily installed using package managers like apt, yum, or zypper. Additionally, the source code is available for manual compilation and installation on other Unix-like systems.

It supports both IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, ensuring compatibility with modern network configurations. The tool allows for setting metrics for both active and inactive interfaces, providing flexibility in managing the interface priorities.

In conclusion, ifmetric is a command line tool that enables users to manipulate routing metrics on network interfaces, allowing for control and prioritization of network traffic. It offers an efficient way to manage multiple network connections in Unix-like operating systems.